Packaged suture and method and apparatus for packaging the same



June 2, 1942. H. cLEMlNsoN 2,284,725 l PACKAGED SUTURES AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING THE SAME Filed 'April 11, 1941 www. Wm.

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Patented `lune 2, 1942 l I s PATENTS OFFICE PACKAGED SUTURE AND METVHO'D AND AP- PARATUS FOR PACKAGING THE SAME y Haldane Cleminson, Chicago, lll. i Application April 11, 1941,sefia1 No. 987,999

s claims. 1 (o1. 12s-335.5)

The present invention relates to packaged sutures and methods and apparatus for packaging the' same, andis particularly concerned with improved methods and devices for; the packaging of sutures so that they are arranged ina more convenient form for the use of a part of a packaged suture, without exposing the rest` ofthe suture` to contamination; Y

One of the objects "of the invention is the provision of an improved suture package in which the suture is so arranged that a part of` it may be withdrawn from the package while the re- `mainder of the suture is still retained in the package and maintained in a sterile condition Another object ofthe invention is the provision of an improved package and method of packaging sutures by means of whichthe suture is made more rreadily availableifor withdrawal from the package Without possibility oftangling.`

Another object of the invention isthe provision'of an" improved suture lpackage and method of packagingfby means of which a greater length of Vsuture may be packaged in a relatively small tube or` other container so as `to utilize to the best advantage the space available.`

' Anotherrobject of the invention is the provision of an improved suture package which is adapted to4 be put up with a minimum amount of hand labor, `and with resulting economy and speed of production in thepackaging ofthe sutures, byreason of the fact; that the packaging may be carried on more quickly.

Anotherr object'of the invention is the provision of an .improved method ofv packaging, and af package forsutures,l by means of which economy in' the use of the suture is effected onaccount of the possibility of using only as much as needed at one time, the remainder of the suture being kept in `a sterile condition in its container, and'fthe protruding part being maintained sterile by its immersion in a sterile alcohol bath.

Another object of the `invention is `,the provision of an improved apparatus for coiling sutures, by means ofV which a suture may behelically coiled and placed in condition for insertion in a relatively small container, such as a glass tube, by means of which provision is made for the protrusion into the upper part of the tube, which Amay be brokenoff, of the end of thesuture to be grasped by the user. ,1

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of an improved suture coilingdevice adapted Cri to effect this result with a minimum amount. of Y manual labor;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings, accompanying the specication:

' Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view, takenv through -a packaged suture, made according to the present invention; n

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional View, taken on a vertical plane through an apparatus adapted to be used in the packaging `Aof sutures of the type shown in Fig. 1;V a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 2, with the partsv in theposition which they assume when the suture and supporting plug are being inserted into a glass tube;

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary elevational View of the needle used in the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the needle, taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig; 4;

Fig. 6 is an axial sectional view, taken throughthe suture container, showing its contents at the time of the sterilization and before the sealing operation. Y

Referring to Fig. 1, this is a vertical sectional View, taken on a plane passingV through thel axis of the suture package, showing the structure and arrangement of such a package. Y

The suture is contained in a glass tube I0 of substantially cylindrical form, having its lower r end II closed and its upper end sealed and similarly closed.

The suture indicated at I3 is helically coiled, and it is found that a greater length of gut can be placed in the small tube when arranged in this way than when it is arranged according to the methods of the prior art.

The diameter of the coils ofthe suture I3 is such that there is preferably a small spacing be-` tween the inner wall of the tube I0 and the suture coils, and the coils may be placed quiteclose together inY contact with each other, if desired, depending upon the relative sizes of the parts.

The lower end of the helically coiled suture I3 is free, but the upper end preferably extends in axial direction, as indicated at I4, through a fibrous plug I5 of absorbent and sterileV cotton, which keeps the helical coils of the suture from becoming disarrangedor getting outside of the tube after the upper end has been broken off at a scored portion I6.

The cotton plug I is made by rolling sterile cotton in the form ofbatting into a substantially cylindrical roll five-eighths of an inch or more in length, and placing it on the needle, which is indicated by the numeral I 1.

The needle I1 is carried by a tube mandrel I8, and may be provided with longitudinally extending wedging slot for receiving the axially extending end I4 of the suture, which may extend to the end of the needle and over the needle and down the opposite side of the needle. A suicient length of this axial portion I4 is provided so that it will project beyond the breaking point of the tube indicated at I6 when the tube has been broken off.

The cotton plug is of suiiicient size so that it has a tight t in the tube I0, and the needle I1 is of sufficient size so that it makes theaperture for the suture portion I4 which is frictionally held as shown in Fig. 1.

The tube is preferably broken `by placing it in a towel and exerting a bending force, which will produce a clean break at the scored groove I6. The operator may then grasp the axially extending end portion I4 of the suture and withdraw as much as is needed from the chamber 2I in the tube below the plug I5. As the end of the suture is drawn out, the helical coil I3 will rotate in the tube, and its coils adjacent the plug I5 will be at least temporarily straightened as they pass through the plug I5. Such opened tubes are customarily kept in a container filled with alcohol to maintain the sterility of the projecting part of the suture. The proper length of suture may be cut off, and the rest left in the tube and the liquid without being disturbed, where it willV be maintained in its sterile condition.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the apparatus for wrapping and packaging such sutures is illustrated in. these figures. This apparatus preferably comprises a supporting base 22 consisting of a plate of suitable material such as Bakelite, and at the right end, the plate is provided with an upwardly extending column 23` having a pair of bearings 24 and 25.

The Vbearing 24 rotatably shaft 26, and the bearing 25 supports a lower shaft 21. The base 22 also has another column 28 provided with bearing 29 for the lower shaft 21, and providing a slidable support for an upper tube 30 which surrounds the upper shaft 26 and serves as a bearing.

An electric heatingy element 3| may surround the metal tube 30 and may be carried by column 28, and may have its leads 32Y connected to a suitable source of energizing current, such as the electric light line, for energizing the heating element 3I, and heating the tube 30 and shaft 26.

The shaft 26 may be made of `a stainless steel tube, iand its mandrel end I8 projecting toward the left in Fig. 2 from thetube 30, is heated sufciently by the heating element 3| to produce a predetermined set in the previously prepared suture I3, when the suture is wrapped on the mandrel I8. Thus the suture I3 is adapted to be coiled in helical form, which shape it retains.

The length of the mandrel I8 beyond the end of the tube 30 and standard 28 is sufficient to receive the tubular member 33 which is mounted in a bore 34 in a third standard 35 carried by the base. 22. The standard 35 is not xedly mounted on the base 22, but is provided with a shoulder 36. on each side at the bottom engaging the top of the base 22, and with a. guide rib 31 of supports an upper reduced width, Iadapted to be slidably received in,

a complementary groove 38 in the base 22. The length of the groove 38 is sufficient to permit the range of movement of the standard 35 as further described herein.

The tubular member 33 comprises a tubular member of suiicient size to embrace the cotton plug I5 when it is still further compressed, and to embrace the helical suture I 3 and mandrel I8, but it is also small enough to be received in the glass tube I0. It preferably has its open end 39 flared out, with or without the slots 4U, for the purpose of facilitating the entrance of the cotton plug I5. At its opposite end it slidably supports a plunger 4I inl a circular bore 42.

The plunger is formed at its outer end with a ring 43 or other handle, and at its inner end with a cylindrical plunger head 44 having an axial slot 45V of suicient size to receive that part of the needle I1 which projects beyond the cotton plug I5.

The standard 35 comprises a block within which are housed a pair of nut plates 46 and 41 which are provided with a screw bore 48, that is threaded to receive the threaded portion 49 of shaft 21. The use of two plates permits the assembly and location of the block 35 at any desired point on the shaft 21, :after the rest of the machine has been assembled.

The base 31 preferably supports an electric motor 50, the drive shaft of which is provided with a` drive pulley 5I engaging one or the other of two friction drive discs 52, 53, carried by shaft 21.

The tube 30 may have a longitudinal movement on its shaft I8 which movement is controlled by a block 54 nxedly mounted on the tube 35 by ymeans of 'a sct screw 55. The block 54, at its lower end, is provided with a threaded member 56 comprising a pair of plates 51, y58 similar to the plates 46, 41, and having a threaded bore for receiving the threaded portion 59 of shaft 21.

A connecting rod 6I has a slot 62 for engaging the lower end of the block 54, and it is iixedly carried by means of a set screw 63 and a suitable bore on the rod 64. The rod 64 is slidably mounted in bores inthe block 65 and standard 28 carried by the base 22. The rod 64 is utilized for controlling the discs 52, 53. The shaft 26 and the shaft 21 are provided with meshing gears 61, 68, xedly secured to these shafts.

The operation of the apparatus is as` follows:

The motor 5U' drives its shaft and driving pulley 5I constantly inl the same direction, and may be caused to drive the shaft 21 in either direction by means of the friction discs 52, 53. Either one of these discs may be brought into engagement with the pulley 5 I', or both may be kept out of contact by pivotingv the motor on its support.

The operator rst secures the end of an appropriate length of suture in the-wedging slot of the needle I1, this suture being folded over at the end of the needle. A plug of cotton I5 is formed and located on the needle I1. The heating element 3I is at this time energized and the mandrel ISfsu-itably heated, and this heating may be maintained throughout the operation of the apparatus.

The motor 50 may then be energized and control rod 6.4 so actuated as to drive the shaft 21 counter-clockwise, and the shaft 26 in a clockwise direction. As the shaftv 26 rotates, the operator may guide the suture I3` as it wraps in a tight helical coilY on the mandrel I8, as illustrated in Fig- 2'. A suitable length is wrapped on the mandrel corresponding tolthe proposed length ofthe 'chamber `ZI'ihthe glassstube ,'Il'l.` The sutureis then out off close to themandrel Is. 1 f

While this-wrapping of` thesuture is Abeirlgj accomplished, the shaft 21 is also:v rotating, and. Vthe rotation" of this' shaft ina counter-clockwise The screw 49 may end at an appropriate point,

and may be on a larger portion than the main vbody of the shaft 21, so that the tube 33 can only be driven toward the right to a predetermined point. l

While the tube 33 is being moved toward the right by screw 49 on the shaft 21, screw 59 is also moving block 54 and tube 30 toward the right to expose the mandrel I8.

When a suitable amount of suture has been lwrapped and' cut off, the drive is reversed in direction by bringing the drive pulley into engagement with the other of the two discs 52, 53. The shaft 26 will then be rotated in the opposite direction, but the suture I3, having been given a predetermined set on thermandrel I8, will not be unwr-apped.

The screw 59 will then be rotated in the opposite direction to cause block 54 to move toward the left, actuating tube 30'toward the left to strip the coiled suture I3 from the mandrel I8.

The tube 30 may be provided with an enlarged tubular-portion 30 at the left end for engaging the end of the helical coil, and sliding the suture off the mandrel I8 without unwrapping the helical coil, since the coil -will be housed in the enlarged portion 60. Y l

As the coiled suture is stripped from the m-andrel I8,`the block 35 is also moved toward the left, carrying withit the tube 33 vvhichat this time houses the cotton plug I5 and suture I3.` Thus the suture and plug are transferred from the mandrel I8 to the tube 33. l

The tube 33 is withdrawn sufficiently from the needle I1 to permit the glass tube I0 to be placed over the end 39 of tube 33, as shown in Fig. 3. Then the plunger 43' is moved toward the right in the metal tube 33 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, engaging Vthe cotton plug I5, which in turn `engages the helical suture I3, forcing it out of the tube 33, into the position oi Fig. 1, in the glass tube IIJ.

The tube shown in Fig. 1 then has its end plugged with a second cotton plug 10, locatedV micro-organisms and their spores.

Thereafter, the vacuum in the closed container may be broken and the ends of the tubes may be immersed in a predetermined amount of sterile preserving fluid, such as ethyl alcohol.

The container may then be subjected to a vacuum which will cause the air tobubble outA through the alcohol from the chamber 2|, through the cotton plugs I5 and 1.0.

The vacuum may again be broken to raise the f preserving alcohol to lilter throughthe plugs I5 and 1,0, into the chamber 2I to a` predetermined level. v,The openfend of the glass tube Il)v may then be sealed, aiterdrying out plugl1ll, below theplug 10, y,while the plug f IIlis` still vin place, and the` sealing is accomplished in theusual manner, by the application of heat and drawing out the tube.

The result is a packaged suture as shownin Fig. l, which is arranged in helicalfform, with one end extending axially through the plug I5. It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved method and apparatus for pack# aging sutures, by means of which the sutures may be arranged in a helical form with a minimum amount of hand labor. Thisarrangement permits the suture to =be withdrawn and used only as needed, the remainder being kept sterile in its tube, which is thrown back in an alcoh solution.

The present product may be packaged more economically than the products of the, prior art becauseless hand labor is required, and the machine may, ofcourse, include a multiplicity of the devices shown in Figs.2 and 3, operating simultaneously.

A greater length of suture may be packaged in the same size tube, or the same amount of suture ment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the scope of the appended claims.

Havingthus described my-,inventiom what I g claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

1. The method of packaging sutures which comprises mounting the ,end of a suture in a bacteria proof fibrous plug adapted to fit in a glass tube, coiling the suture on a suitable support in substantially helical coils, giving the helical coils of the suture a predetermined set by the application of a predetermined degree of heat, removing the suture and plug from said support and placing them in said glass tube with the plug spaced from the open end of the tube, and'conlining thesuture in the tube, and sterilizing the tube and its contents, whereby the suture may be removed by pulling out of said plug a predetermined amount of the suture,'as required.

2. The method of packaging sutures Vwhich comprises mounting the end of a suture in a bacteria proof librous plug adapted to iit in a glass tube, coiling the suture on a suitable support in substantially helical coils, giving the helical coils of the suture a predetermined set by the application of a predetermined degree of heat, removing the suture and plug from said support and placing them in said glass tube with the plug spaced from the open end of the tube, and confining the suture in the tube, said tube being provided with a weakened Wall portion located outwardly of said plug, plugging the end of said tube with a brous bacteria proof plug, and sterilizing the tube and its contents.

3. The method of packaging Vsutures which comprises mounting the end of a suture in a bacteria proof fibrous plug adapted to fit in a glass tube, coiling the suture on a suitable support in substantially helical coils, giving the heli caly coils of thesu-ture a predetermined set by theapplication of a predetermined degree of heat, removingv the suture and plug from said support and placing them in said glass tube with the plug spaced from the open end of the tube, and connng the suture in the tubersaid tube being provided with a weakened wall; por- .and the latter plug.'

tion located'outwardly of said plug, plugging the end of said tube witha brous bacteria proof plug, and sterlizing. the tube and its contents, and sealing the tube with the latter plug in place, the vsealing bengrbetween the end of the suture HALDANE cLEMINsoN. 

